Page 105 of Into the Mountains
“Why?”
“You needed help.”
“But you didn’t have—”
“No,” she interrupts. “I didn’t have to.” She uncovers herself and stands to wrap her arms around me, hair falling halfway down her back. “I wanted to though. You’re,” she hesitates before taking a deep breath. “You and Ethan are my family, if you’ll have me and I just…wanted to be here for the both of you.”
I can’t resist tucking strands of hair behind her ears as my thumbs brush her cheeks.
“If you think you’re sleeping anywhere else besides this house for the foreseeable future, then we will finally establish you’re not smarter than I am.”
We both smile and kiss each other through our laughs as we fall back into bed.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
CHARLOTTE
“Dad, are you serious?” Ethan practically yells.
“I believe that brings the tally up to six and I think that’s a lucky number and I don’t think there’s anymore at the shelter since we practically adopted them all. So, this one here,” Eli says, patting Ethan’s newest kitten on the top of her head. “Is the last one.”
“Deal,” Ethan says, his smile the biggest I’ve ever seen since I’ve known him.
The birthday party was a roaring success and even though I feel like I’ve been running in every single direction for the past few hours, I’d do it all over again to see Eli sitting down right now, fully relaxed and not having to worry about a single detail. He was able to talk to his family and the other parents that showed up with their kids who all couldn’t stop talking about the movie after it was over. The only ones left now are his family. I made sure to string lights right under the tents and on the porch so the ones who stayed late would have enough light to see.
Eli didn’t have to worry about chip bowls running low or ice melting, because I made sure to take care of everything. I absentmindedly run my fingers through his hair as he talks to his son. He snakes his arm around my waist and pulls me closer.
“The one wrapped in green paper is from me.”
“You got me a present, Charlie?”
“Did you really think I wouldn’t?”
Ethan smiles as he tears into the paper, revealing a special edition ofThe Hobbitsigned by J.R.R Tolkien. “Holy shit, no way!”
“That is at least $10 to the jar,” Sky says from the porch.
“I get a pass. It’s my birthday,” he calls back without looking away from his book.
“This is amazing. Thanks, Ma.” An immediate silence falls over the yard andThe Hobbitsoundtrack sounds much too cheery at the moment.
I hold up my one ring cup in a cheers motion. “You’re welcome, Ethan. I have a lot of editions, but that particular one I found for sale online and I couldn’t resist snagging it for you.”
The moment has passed and everyone is back to their conversations and other chatter. Eli stands up though and everyone quiets again as they all move closer to him.
He looks out to the faces of his family before his eyes find mine and then to his son who nods slightly back at him. “I’d like to thank everyone for everything you’ve done for us not just today but over the years too. I’m sure I’ve thanked you in some passing way, but never properly. For everything you did for Ethan and me, for Sarah, who I can feel with us, from the bottom of my soul, thank you.”
Ethan lets out a small sniffle and I start to move toward him, but stop myself not knowing if I should. After he wipes tears from his eyes, though, I decide to go to him and kneel next to him. I’ll offer the comfort and let him decline if he needs to. I can only imagine the mix of emotions he might feel now, especially after calling me anything other than Charlie.
Once he feels my hand on his back, he looks over to see me kneeling beside him. As soon as he does, he throws his smallbody into mine and I wrap him as tightly as I can. Kissing the side of his head, I whisper, “It’s all going to be okay.”
And, as if he believes me, I feel him take in a deep breath and let it out in one long stream. I don’t know how long we stay like this, but eventually I feel another pair of arms wrap around us, then another and another, and soon I am engrossed in a Waters family hug. One that reminds me of everything I’ve lost, but of everything I’ve gained too.
CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR
ELIAS
“You are simply amazing, love.”
